Among
the countless treatises embodying a great deal of corpus of this shrine,
Skandapurana takes precedence. The Kolapura Mahatyam an integral part of
Skandapurana envisages a glorious aithihyam of this Muktidham in all its details
- origin, sthapakas, palakas, aradhakas etc. And a reverent reading lifts the
adorers of every denomination. Venerable Vedavyasa grows eloquent over the
description of Parasakti - the presiding deity of this Kshetra and the region.
In its primeval state, it was called Maharanyam - a thick overgrowth of wide
green forest, infested with wild animals, making it inaccessible to humans, but
was deemed a god-gifted, sublime, sequestered haven for highly evolved souls,
congenial to doing uninterrrupted meditation and penance. Once when Maharshi
Kola chanced to ramble through this enchanting forest region, to his good
fortune, he found a self - manifested lingam on the banks of Souparnika, flowing
majestically through this virgin forest.Considering it as a gift of the Omni -
compassionate Bhaktavashankar, he adored it with due rituals for long. Maheswar,
pleased with his spiritual ardour of high order, appeared before him and gave
what all his pious heart longed for. He lived there as a carefree tapasvi
unhindered by any, and it was then named after him - Kolapuram.